The Layman family in America is
more than two hundred years old.Most
of its members have been farmers fond of owning and working their land and ever
ready to defend it.

WHAT'S IN A
NAME

The name Layman is chiefly of
Swiss/German origin. The northern German definition is derived from the
well-known Lehmann that was originally written Lehnsmann or Lehensmannn,
which applied to one who held his lands in brief or fee; that is, in feudal
tenure as a vassal.The Swiss
version or southern German definition, of which this particular family
originated, is explained as one who lives
on the side of a mountain.

The name is also occasionally
found in England where it is said to be derived from the old English Laymann,
meaning lawman, lawyer.It is quite
possible that the English name was a corruption of the personal name of Leman or
Leamon, which in turn was derived from the ancient German or Nordic liefman,
meaning beloved or dear.

In both European and American
records, the name appears in the various spellings: Lehmann, Lehman, Leaman,
Leman, Lemann, Leeman, Leighman, Leemon, Leamon, Lemon, Laymon, Layman, Leiman,
Leyman, etal.

THEY WERE SWISS

(Our branch of
the family)

This
particular Lehmann/Layman family were of Swiss origin.Mid 1600 records show that our Lehmann's came from what was known as Sur
Bern, in what was known then as the Swiss Confederation.Today that same area is called Canton, Aargue.This, like much of Switzerland was mountainous.Homes and farms were built on the sides of mountains.The Lehmann family during this time, were mostly farmers.As they moved from their beloved Swiss farmland because of poor grazing,
population expansion and to better provide for their families, they became
merchants, magistrates, inn keepers, weavers, and some even continued in
farming.This is when they settled
in the Blankenloch area of Germany.This
is located just a few miles to the north and east of Karlsrue.They were of the Mennonite religion and many of them remained
this for a number of generations when they eventually became Lutherans.